763.72111/35½
Memorandum by the Counselor for the Department of State (Lansing) on Course To Be Pursued To Preserve the “Status Quo” in China 2
The Chinese Government has issued a proclamation of neutrality in the European wars now being waged.
About August 1st the Chinese Minister spoke to the Secretary of State in regard to the feasibility of securing an agreement among the belligerents that the Far East should be neutralized.
On August 3rd the American Chargé at Peking telegraphed the Department:
“The proposal is being mooted to neutralize all foreign settlements concessions in China not including leased areas. I beg to request authorization for the Legation to participate in such an arrangement when laid before diplomatic body.”3
To this the Department replied:
“Your cipher telegram of August 3, 5 p. m. The Department authorizes Legation to participate in proposed arrangement to neutralize all foreign settlements in China not including leased areas.”4
About August 3rd the Netherlands Chargé asked the Counselor of the Department whether this Government would unite with the Netherlands Government in a request to neutralize the western side of the Pacific.
On August 6th the American Chargé at Peking stated5 that the diplomatic corps were unwilling to take up the matter of neutralization of the treaty ports, but that this Government might take up the question of the observance of the neutrality of China. He further stated that the Chinese Government intended to take up the neutralization of the Far East with this Government and with the Japanese Government.
On August 7th the Belgian Chargé approached the Third Assistant Secretary on the preservation of the status quo in China.
It is my judgment that a suggestion to neutralize any portion of the Pacific would be rejected by certain of the belligerents, and that, therefore, it would be unwise to make such a suggestion.
The neutralization of foreign settlements, other than territory leased to foreign governments, such as Wei-hai-Wei, Kiaochow, Kowloon, Kuangchouwan, which are respectively naval bases of Great Britain, Germany, Great Britain, and France should be urged upon the belligerents. It would amount to neutralizing the foreign treaty ports. The Department should take up the matter at once with the belligerent governments.
To further protect the interests of the United States in China and those of the Republic of China, I would suggest that it would be advisable—
- (1)
- to obtain from the belligerent powers specific declarations that they will respect the neutrality of Chinese territory and waters, except areas leased to belligerent powers and except the waters adjacent to such areas.
- (2)
- to obtain from all powers, who have interests in China, whether belligerent or neutral, an agreement that the status quo of all foreign rights and interests in China at the beginning of the present wars in Europe shall continue until a state of general peace in Europe.
I believe that it is possible to obtain the foregoing agreements as to neutralization of treaty ports, respect for Chinese neutrality and preservation of status quo in China. To ask more would I believe endanger all and would, in any event, so delay an international arrangement as to seriously impair its value when obtained. Furthermore, [Page 3] to ask an agreement of a government, though convinced that it would not be granted, would accomplish no good purpose and give an impression that this Government was impracticable.
I believe that the preservation of the status quo to be the most important to American interests.
Appended is a telegram received on August 7th,6 after the foregoing memorandum was prepared. While it has an important bearing on the situation, it supports the suggestions as to the policy to be pursued by this Government, and emphasizes the desirability of not adopting a course of action which would be unacceptable to the powers interested.
There is also appended a copy of correspondence relating to the action of the French and German naval commanders in Chinese waters during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.7 It hardly forms a basis for present action in view of the different conditions which exist today. It was then merely a matter of protection of the lives of foreigners in China against the Chinese. Today it is the protection of national and individual property interests from the attack of belligerents.
- This paper bears the notation: “Handed to Secy of State Aug 8, 1914.”↩
- Foreign Relations, 1914, supp., p. 161.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1914, supp., p. 163.↩
- Ibid., p. 162.↩
- Telegram of Aug. 7, 1914, 2 a. m., from the Charge in China, ibid., p. 164.↩
- Ibid., 1870, pp. 396–398.↩